The theme of the conference is "Higher Education: Forerunner in Meeting Diverse Global
Challenges" which aimed to promote healthy exchange of ideas from researchers of diffe-
rent disciplines throughout the country, and to broaden understanding on the important
role of higher education coping with the many challenges of the present time. This confe-
rence facilitated the evaluation and dissemination of research output and identified and
formulated policies and action plans that would address said concerns.
One of the Guest Speakers was Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, Chief of Hospital III of
Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital & Medical Center (MMMH&MC), City of Batac, Ilocos
Norte and the present Chairman of the Region 1 Health Research & Development Consor-
tium (R1HRDC). She focused on the topic, "Enhancing
Practical Solutions on Health Problems Through Conventional Biotechnology in Drugs and
Medical Plants" and elaborated on its rationale when she discussed about the PCHRD's
National Unified Health Research Agenda for 2011-2016 which covers Drug Discovery &
Development, Development of Diagnostic Kits for
Priority Diseases, Genomics and Molecular Technology, Functional Foods, Hospital Equip-
ment and Biomedical Devices, ICT in Health and Chronobiology.
The main objective of her talk was to challenge the audience, composed mostly of state
university faculties and academic researchers all over the Philippines to encourage their
students in health - related research.
